Written Answers Tuesday 9 December 2008

Scottish Executive

Alcohol Misuse

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to tackle the number of pupils being suspended or expelled for alcohol-related issues from schools in mid Scotland and Fife, broken down by local authority area.

Maureen Watt: At a strategic level, the Scottish Government published a discussion paper in June, setting out a wide ranging set of actions and proposals to tackle alcohol misuse amongst young people and the wider population.

  Action includes supporting schools and local authorities in a number of ways. This includes the establishment of an expert steering group on substance misuse education in schools to produce advice, guidance and proposals aimed at helping schools and authorities to achieve the improvements sought through Curriculum for Excellence. The Scottish Government is developing new guidance, Included, Engaged and Involved: Part 2 which will focus on the prevention and management of exclusion from school.

  Actions to tackle alcohol-related issues within schools in the mid Scotland and Fife parliamentary region is a matter for the particular individual local authorities concerned. Therefore, the information requested is not held centrally.

Asylum Seekers

Bashir Ahmad (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children of asylum seekers have been enrolled in higher education in each year since 1999.

Fiona Hyslop: This information is not held centrally.

Bees

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the effect will be of the loss of habitat for bees following the end of set aside.

Richard Lochhead: There were a number of management options for set-aside land, including using the land to grow crops for non-food use. Not all of these options delivered high-value environmental benefits or created ideal habitat for bees. It is therefore difficult to estimate, particularly in the short term, the effect which the ending of set-aside will have on bees or other species.

Bees

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking, or considering taking, to extend habitat for bees and other creatures following the ending of set aside.

Richard Lochhead: The ending of set-aside has been discussed at CAP Stakeholders Group meetings, and we are currently considering whether options can be developed to retain some of the environmental benefits which were produced as a by-product of set-aside. We will consider, as part of that process, concerns about the habitat of bees and other creatures. In the meantime, the Scotland Rural Development Programme contains a number of biodiversity priorities which are designed to encourage farmers to deliver targeted environmental benefits.

Central Heating Programme

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W–11422 by Stewart Maxwell on 24 April 2008, what the average daily waiting times was under the central heating programme in each of the last three months in (a) the Glasgow Rutherglen parliamentary constituency and (b) Scotland.

Stewart Maxwell: Information is not held by parliamentary constituency area, but for Scotland as a whole.

  The average waiting time during 2008-09 remains around six months. So far, the average daily waiting time for all those that have received a central heating system, this year, is 179 days. At no point since the inception of the programme in 2001 has the average waiting time been less than five months.

  Those waiting longest continue to be a priority. This has reduced their number, but has the effect of distorting the average waiting time figure.

  The average daily waiting time for those who received a central heating system in each of the last three months, as notified by the managing agent (Scottish Gas), is shown in the following table:

  

 Period
 Average Waiting Time in Days


 August 2008
 241


 September 2008
 177


 October 2008
 191



  Notes:

  1. The "Average Waiting Time" is the average time a householder has waited between application and the month in which their system was installed.

  2. Figures for November 2008 are not yet available.

  3. The number of householders waiting more than six months (1,185) is less now than it was at the same time last year (2,788).

Class Sizes

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with representatives of South Lanarkshire Council regarding the implementation in every school in South Lanarkshire of the SNP manifesto commitment to reduce class sizes in primaries 1 to 3.

Maureen Watt: The Minister for Children and Early Years and I visited South Lanarkshire on 26 August 2008 when class size reduction in primary 1 to primary 3 was discussed. South Lanarkshire has used efficiency savings to employ 11 teachers to reduce P1 classes to a maximum of 18 in the most deprived areas.

Coastal Protection

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether examples of good practice from other European countries regarding coastal protection will be considered when the Scottish Marine Bill is being drafted.

Richard Lochhead: The new EC Marine Strategy Framework Directive and international examples from Canada, New Zealand and Australia were considered in the development of proposals for a Scottish Marine Bill. Sustainable Seas for All - a consultation on Scotland's First Marine Bill  invited views on the management and protection of coastal resources. The responses are currently being analysed. If there are specific examples of good practice the member would like me to be aware of, please write with the details.

Communities

Bashir Ahmad (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those organisations representing the Muslim community that have received Scottish Government grants since May 1999, also showing the value of grants received.

Stewart Maxwell: The projects currently funded through the Race, Religion and Refugee Funding Stream are listed in question S3W-15639 which was answered on 3 September 2008. Prior to this funding stream being established funding was made available through the Race Equality, Integration and Community Support Fund and information on this can be found at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2006/06/16114432.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Economy

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to protect jobs in Edinburgh from the current economic downturn given the large number of city residents employed in the banking sector.

Jim Mather: This Government is doing everything within its power to protect jobs across all sectors and to mitigate the effects of the economic downturn across the whole of Scotland, including in Edinburgh.

  Recognising that the global economic slowdown has presented severe challenges to the Scottish economy, the Scottish Government has set out an economic recovery programme which builds on the steps already taken to support the Scottish economy.

  The programme has six elements, designed to maintain investment and development in the economy while targeting support at households and businesses.

  Full details can be found on the Scottish Government website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Economy/economic-situation.

Environment

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what work will be undertaken by the Scottish European Green Energy Centre that is not carried out by the Scottish Government’s existing departments and agencies.

Jim Mather: The Scottish European Green Energy Centre will complement and co-ordinate the range of work already undertaken by the Scottish Government’s existing departments and agencies in the development of green energy, with a specifically European dimension.

  It will do this by providing a stronger focus and dedicated resources to proactively engage Scottish researchers, companies and government agencies in European energy policy and associated funding opportunities. This will enable Scottish organisations to access the dedicated expertise required to effectively track and influence this policy environment and develop projects for funding.

  The centre will also have a specific focus to disseminate the results of Scottish and other collaborative green energy research across the European Union, raising the profile of Scottish expertise, and capitalising on the significant market opportunities for the green energy sector.

Environment

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is considering implementing to encourage a reduction in the use of plastic packaging.

Richard Lochhead: The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), on behalf of the Scottish Government, are working with retailers, manufacturers and leading supermarkets through the Courtauld Commitment to reduce the amount of packaging used and sold. Earlier in 2008 the signatories to the Courtauld Commitment reported that packaging waste growth had halted. There is now a commitment to deliver a reduction in packaging waste by March 2010.

  WRAP is also working closely with industry to ensure that where plastic packaging is used the packaging is optimised in terms of weight and functionality and designed so that it can easily be reused or recycled.

  In the case of plastic bags, the Scottish Government has secured a commitment from retailers in Scotland to reduce carrier bag usage by 50% by Spring 2009.

  Work with the Scottish Waste Awareness Group (SWAG) includes the provision of information on packaging for consumers on SWAG’s web site so that the public is better informed about the role of packaging, how to avoid unnecessary packaging and how to complain about excess packaging.

Fair Trade

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to promote fair trade.

Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government remains committed to promoting fair trade and supporting the Fair Trade Nation campaign.

  It is for this reason I am pleased to award the Scottish Fair Trade Forum an additional £20,000 for 2008-09 to assist with high visibility advertising and marketing to reach a broad number of people and further increase the public awareness of Fair Trade and Scotland’s Fair Trade Nation campaign.

Fair Trade

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to ensure that Fairtrade products are used by agencies across the public sector.

Linda Fabiani: Guidance issued in 2005 recommends that public bodies should support fair trade and explains how this can be done within procurement legislation by inviting suppliers to include fair trade options in their tenders and by working on a voluntary basis with suppliers once contracts have been awarded.

  The Scottish Government leads by example to the public sector and has successfully put this guidance into practice. By working with the catering contractor, the Scottish Government currently offers a wide range of Fairtrade or ethically traded products (including tea, coffee, sugar, juice and snacks) in its staff restaurants. In addition, Fairtrade tea, coffee and sugar are used as standard hospitality for meetings.

  I have also written to the Secretary of State for International Development, the Secretary of State for Scotland, the Minister for Europe at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the European Commission Office in Edinburgh seeking their views on this matter.

Fair Trade

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many public agencies are working towards Fairtrade status.

Linda Fabiani: This information is not held centrally although all public agencies have received a copy of the guidance issued in 2005 recommending that they should support Fair Trade.

  Research indicates that, at present, eight local authorities in Scotland have achieved Fair Trade Zone status. These are Aberdeen, Dundee, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Glasgow and Stirling.

Health

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it issues to NHS boards regarding the administering of fentanyl patches for the purposes of palliative care.

Shona Robison: Routine guidance on fentanyl patches is not issued to NHS boards. However, guidance is available to health professionals from a number of sources. Importantly, the British National Formulary (BNF) provides key information on the selection, prescribing, dispensing and administration of medicines. The BNF is issued free to prescribers in Scotland and can be accessed at www.bnf.org

  The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) has issued a guideline on the Control of pain in adults with cancer. The advice in this guideline includes the use of fentanyl patches. The guideline can be accessed at www.sign.ac.uk

  In September 2008, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency issued a drug alert to healthcare professionals alerting them to a recall of lonsys lontophoretic transdermal system - fentanyl 40 micrograms per dose. This drug alert covered Scotland.

  Other sources of guidance and advice on the use of medicines include the Scottish Medicines Consortium www.scottishmedicines.org and NHS Quality Improvement Scotland:

  www.healthquality.org.

Health

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with pharmaceutical companies regarding the development of sedative patches for patients in palliative care who are unable to take oral medication.

Shona Robison: There have been no discussions with pharmaceutical companies regarding the development of sedative patches for patients unable to take oral medication. The decision whether or not to invest in the development of a particular medicine or formulation of a medicine is a commercial decision for the company concerned.

Housing

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which housing associations in East and West Dunbartonshire will share in the £4.1 million to fund land purchase by housing associations for future developments, announced on 26 November 2008; how much these housing associations will receive, and on which developments the money is to be spent.

Stewart Maxwell: The details of the projects approved in East and West Dunbartonshire being funded from the £4.1 million announced for land purchases from the £9 million second tranche of accelerated funding announced on 26 November 2008 are as follows:

  

 Local Authority
 Housing Association
 Project
 Allocated Grant


 West Dunbartonshire
 Dunbritton Housing Association
 Leven St, Alexandria
£0.500


 East Dunbartonshire
 Cube Housing Association
 Meiklehill Kirkintilloch
£1.500



  The remaining £2.1 million for land purchases is for projects in other local authority areas.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the £1.4 million announced on 27 November 2008 to fund the purchase of suitable unsold housing stock from the private sector in Falkirk and Perth and Kinross, what the average level of subsidy is per house.

Stewart Maxwell: The £1.4 million announced on the 27 November 2008 to purchase unsold housing stock in Falkirk and Perth and Kinross, results in an average level of subsidy per house of £50,000. The £1.4 million is the allocation to date based on an initial estimate; however now that negotiations have been concluded, it has been established that the average grant subsidy per unit will be £64,000. This results in the allocation increasing to £1.759 million.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the £1.4 million announced on 27 November 2008 to fund the purchase of suitable unsold housing stock from the private sector in Falkirk and Perth and Kinross, how many houses will be purchased.

Stewart Maxwell: The £1.4 million announced on 27 November 2008 to purchase unsold housing stock in Falkirk and Perth and Kinross will result in a total of 28 units being purchased by three housing associations.

Housing

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the Home Report advertising and communication budget is for 2008-09.

Stewart Maxwell: The Home Report publicity campaign is intended to reach people currently involved in the house buying and selling process, rather than the whole population of Scotland. It is based on consumer research and research with property professionals and comprises advertising and editorials in the national, local and property press, radio advertisements, billboards and online advertisements. Phase 1 of the campaign started in mid-October 2008 prior to the launch of the Home Report and runs until mid-December. Phase 2 of the campaign starts in mid-January and runs until the end of February 2009. The total budget for both phases of the campaign is £677,975.00, including VAT.

Housing

Alasdair Allan (Western Isles) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it plans to have with housing associations on investment reform.

Stewart Maxwell: We have today published Investing in Affordable Housing: a consultation which invites comments from the wider housing sector on our proposals for reform. Copies have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47123)

Identity Cards

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice and support it intends to offer to Scottish university and college students if they refuse to comply with the UK Government’s ID card scheme.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government is opposed to the UK National Identity Scheme and Scottish ministers have made clear to the Westminster Government that they are opposed to the implementation of the National Identity Scheme and the introduction of identity cards linked to a National Identity Register.

  Scots will not be required to have an ID card to access devolved services. This applies to Scottish students in the same way as it applies to other Scottish citizens.

Justice

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the last offensive weapons amnesty took place in Scotland and how many weapons were collected in each police board area.

Kenny MacAskill: The last offensive weapons amnesty (knives and sharp objects) was the Safer Scotland Knife Amnesty which was from 24 May 2006 and lasted until 30 June 2006. The total of 12,642 offensive weapons were collected. The following table gives a breakdown by police force.

  Safer Scotland Knife Amnesty

  

 Force
 


 British Transport Police
 96


 Central
 566


 Dumfries and Galloway
 446


 Fife
 658


 Grampian
 846


 Lothian and Borders
 1,840


 Ministry of Defence
 8


 Northern
 510


 Strathclyde
 6,647


 Tayside
 968


 Violence Reduction Unit
 57


 Total
 12,642

Planning

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the Air Quality Screening Tool for Biomass Combustion in Scotland as identified in the report prepared for the Scottish Government entitled Measurements and Modelling of Fine Particulate Emission (PM10 and PM2.5) from Wood-Burning Biomass Boilers provides an appropriate basis for environmental health officers and planners to advise on the individual and cumulative particulate impacts of the wood-burning biomass energy elements of planning applications.

Richard Lochhead: Yes, the screening tool developed in the report is being incorporated into technical guidance for air quality reporting for local authorities to determine the cumulative impact of biomass boilers on fine particulate matter levels in urban areas. It can also be referred to for advice by local authorities on reducing any local impacts of biomass boilers on fine particulate matter levels in rural areas with regards to a minimum stack height.

Pollution

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that individuals and businesses that cause pollution should be required to pay to clean up that pollution.

Richard Lochhead: Yes, the Scottish Government fully embraces the polluter pays principle. Furthermore, in the current economic climate it is appropriate for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to assist business wherever possible where this can be done without impacting on regulatory activity or having a deleterious effect on human health and the environment.

Poverty

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the announced £7.5 million to support its poverty framework will be spent in each of the next three financial years, broken down by local authority.

Stewart Maxwell: There has been no breakdown by local authority of the investment of £7.5 million. The Scottish Government is in discussions with COSLA and other key stakeholders on how to best utilise this funding to implement the commitments set out in the framework.

Recycling

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the benefit to the Scottish economy will be from having an excess of subsidised wind farm electricity generating capacity if this electricity is exported and the aerogenerators have been manufactured abroad.

Jim Mather: The growth of the wind energy sector is providing a platform for the growth of new technologies and a catalyst for the development of a grid infrastructure which will allow us to export some of Scotland’s massive green energy potential from a wide-range of renewable sources, thus contributing to future energy security in Scotland and in Europe. An increase in renewable energy capacity will have a beneficial impact on grid security in Scotland.

  Similarly, meeting a greater share of our energy needs from wind and other renewables will reduce emissions and help achieve Scottish and European climate change targets.

  We believe that Scotland can be a European leader in the development of green energy, attracting jobs and inward investment, and contributing to the Scottish Government’s priority of increasing sustainable economic growth.

Recycling

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many single outcome agreements with local authorities include outcomes relating to recycling.

Richard Lochhead: Twenty-nine of the 32 local authorities in Scotland have single outcome agreements that include outcomes on recycling. The three who do not are Shetland, Western Isles and Clackmannanshire.

Recycling

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities will be penalised for not achieving their agreed outcomes on recycling.

Richard Lochhead: The concordat between Scottish Government and COSLA established a new way of working based upon mutual respect, trust and partnership. The concordat makes it clear that it is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate resources on the basis of local needs and priorities, including the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectives and manifesto commitments.

  The Scottish Government will work with COSLA and local authorities to provide support and resolve problems associated with non-achievement of agreed outcomes.

Recycling

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which community recycling projects have received support since the announcement on 24 January 2008 of £2.5 million of government funding over three years for community recycling.

Richard Lochhead: The community recycling projects that have received funding since January 2008 are set out in the following table. The actual funding being made available by the Scottish Government under the INCREASE III Programme for community recycling projects is in fact £7.5 million over the period 2008-09 – 2010-11.

  

 Organisation
 Town
 Name of Project
 Award


 Alloa Community Enterprises Ltd 
 Alloa, Clackmannanshire
 Enterprise Development
£180,000.00


 Blythswood Care
 Evanton, Highland
 Re-use and Recycling Partnership
£91,440.00


 Friends of the Earth Scotland Ltd
 Edinburgh
 Communities Reducing Excess Waste (CREW)
£203,198.44


 Golspie Recycling and Environmental Action Network
 Golspie, Highland
 GREAN Development Project
£242,063.00


 Highland Real Nappy Project
 Grantown-on-Spey, Highland
 Real Nappies for Highland Babies
£176,787.00


 Sustain Dundee
 Dundee
 Dundee Real Nappy Campaign
£53,630.45


 The Wise Group
 Glasgow
 Getting Glasgow Waste Wise
£299,065.00


 Aberdeen Forward 
 Aberdeen
 Grampian Real Nappy Project
£108,912.14


 Changeworks
 Edinburgh
 Edinburgh and Lothians Real Nappy Project
£165,911.00


 Compost Doctors Scotland
 Stirling
 Compost Doctors Scotland
£133,000.00


 Edinburgh Community Backgreens Association
 Edinburgh
 Green Caretakers On-Site Household Composting Service
£32,490.00


 Edinburgh Cyrenians
 Edinburgh
 Cyrenians Waste Collection Services
£189,458.00


 Employability Orkney (Restart Orkney)
 Orkney
 Restart Orkney - Enterprise Development
£74,700.00


 Fallin Community Services
 Fallin, Stirling
 Polmaise Community Reuse Centre
£105,500.00


 Forth Environment Link
 Stirling
 Forth Valley Waste Minimisation Programme
£74,579.00


 Glasgow Furniture Initiative
 Glasgow
 GFI: The Next Steps
£225,000.00


 Glasgow Wood Recycling
 Glasgow
 Glasgow Wood Recycling Expansion & Enterprise
£91,991.00


 Good Green Fun CIC
 Stirling
 Good Green Fun Move to Self Sufficiency
£41,706.00


 Instant Neighbour
 Aberdeen
 The Aberdeen Instant Neighbour Workshop
£138,525.00


 Intowork (Bits and Bobs) 
 Edinburgh
 Community Scrapstore
£84,500.00


 Moray Waste Busters Limited
 Forres, Moray
 Completion of Site Development
£37,142.00


 Perth and Kinross Real Nappy Network 
 Perth
 Perth and Kinross Real Nappy Scheme
£57,190.00


 Recycle to Cycle (The Bike Station)
 Edinburgh
 The Bike Station
£133,000.00


 RePaint Scotland
 Glasgow
 RePaint Scotland
£299,503.00


 Ross-Shire Waste Action Network Ltd
 Dingwall, Highland
 RoWAN: Towards Waste-free Communities Project
£299,534.00


 Tiree Environmental Action and Recycling Group
 Tiree
 Mobile Waste Agri-Plastic Recycling Service for Tiree
£9,810.00

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the proposals to waive and restrict fees charged to businesses by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, announced on 25 November 2008, will be funded.

Richard Lochhead: Any loss of income in 2008-09 from the decision to waive certain licence application fees payable by businesses will be funded from reprioritisation of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s existing budget provision.

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the proposals to waive and restrict fees charged to businesses by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), announced on 25 November 2008, will impact on SEPA staff.

Richard Lochhead: The decision to waive certain licence application fees and charges from businesses for the remainder of 2008-09 will not adversely impact on SEPA staff. The same level of regulatory activity and support will continue to be available to businesses.

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much the proposals to waive and restrict fees charged to businesses by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, announced on 25 November 2008, will cost.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) estimates that the waiving of licence application fees will cost SEPA £600,000 in 2008-09.

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Environment Protection Agency consulted its staff before its announcement on 25 November 2008 that it would waive and restrict fees charged to businesses.

Richard Lochhead: The waiving and restriction of some fees charged to business for the remainder of 2008-09 was a business decision taken by Scottish Environment Protection Agency staff in the senior management team.

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many unfair dismissal claims arising from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s pay settlement for 2008-09 have been (a) submitted and (b) resolved.

Richard Lochhead: None. The 2008-09 pay settlement is still in negotiation with the trade union. As this is an operational matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, I have asked its Chief Executive, Campbell Gemmell, to write to the member.

Scottish Futures Trust

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive who will appoint the chief executive of the Scottish Futures Trust.

John Swinney: The board of the Scottish Futures Trust in consultation with Scottish ministers will appoint the chief executive.

Scottish Futures Trust

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Futures Trust has a role in seeking to secure delivery of Aberdeen schools under the 3Rs project and, if so, what that role is.

John Swinney: Scottish Futures Trust is in regular contact with Aberdeen City Council regarding its 3Rs schools project and is providing expert advice to complement that of the council’s professional advisers to the project. The private sector consortium, which is contracted to the council for the provision of the schools, remains solely responsible for their delivery, including securing necessary funding.

Scottish Futures Trust

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Futures Trust will have a role in the delivery of any future public sector infrastructure projects funded on a non-profit distributing model and, if so, what that role will be.

John Swinney: As stated in the publication Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust (Bib. number 45605), one of the objectives of SFT is to support projects, and to pursue the potential to increase further the benefits of the NPD model. In addition, SFT will pursue other routes to maximise overall value for money for the taxpayer from infrastructure investment.

Scottish Futures Trust

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to S3W-17293 by John Swinney on 28 October 2008, how many staff are employed in the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT); what the relationship is between it and the Scottish Government, and how many SFT staff members have been involved in discussions held between it, Aberdeen City Council and its professional advisers about the Aberdeen 3Rs school project.

John Swinney: At present, eight staff are working on Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) projects and programmes under the leadership of the Chair, Sir Angus Grossart. SFT has advertised the post of chief executive and will make appointments to this and further positions soon.

  SFT is a private company limited by shares under the Companies Acts, and wholly owned by Scottish ministers. Ministers appoint the Chair and members of SFT and have set its overall priorities in the publication Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust (Bib number 45605).

  Three staff working for SFT have been in discussions with Aberdeen City Council and its professional advisers about the Aberdeen 3Rs school project.

Scottish Government Ministers

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many conferences have been addressed by ministers since May 2007; where and when the conference was held, and which minister participated.

John Swinney: The detailed information requested is currently being collated and I will write to the member as soon as the information is available. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47125).

Tourism

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether VisitScotland has undertaken research into how many visitors from (a) Scotland, (b) the rest of the United Kingdom and (c) overseas visit because of the attractions of the coastline.

Jim Mather: Scotland’s beautiful and varied coastline and its wide-range of attractions feature as one of the main activities participated in by visitors to Scotland. VisitScotland’s Visitor Experience Survey for 2008 reveals that 52% of UK visitors and 58% of Scots on holiday in Scotland said they had explored Scotland’s beaches and coastline, although only 4% of the latter said they had explored Scottish beaches and castles as the main purpose of their trip.

Tourism

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated value is to the Scottish economy of outdoor recreation on the coast.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government does not hold comprehensive information on this subject. However estimates of the value to the economy of some types of outdoor recreation for some areas of Scotland are available from the British Marine Federation, the World Wildlife Fund and other organisations.

  For example, the federation estimate that the annual economic impact of the marine leisure industry in Scotland is £250 million, supporting around 7,000 jobs, with sailing accounting for £130 million of this. The World Wildlife Fund estimates that coastal tourism in Scotland contributes £375 million to the economy. Sportscotland estimates that sea angling is worth around £150 million, and we are near the end of a study to give us a more precise estimate, while recreational diving is worth upwards of £5 million.

  At the local level, quite small economic impacts can have a major benefit. The Tiree Wave Classic is supported by EventScotland and is estimated to bring £1 million to the Tiree economy each year. The Fife Coast and Countryside Trust estimate that between 480,000 and 580,000 visitors used the Fife Coastal Path between July 2005 and June 2006, generating between £24 million and £29 million of revenues, and supporting 800 to 900 jobs in Fife.

Waste Management

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many single outcome agreements with local authorities include outcomes relating to waste management.

Richard Lochhead: All 32 local authorities in Scotland have single outcome agreements that include an outcome on waste management.

Waste Management

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities will be penalised for not achieving their agreed outcomes on waste management.

Richard Lochhead: The concordat between Scottish Government and COSLA has established a new way of working based on mutual respect, trust and partnership. The concordat makes it clear that it is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate resources on the basis of local needs and priorities, including the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectives and manifesto commitments.

  The funding from the previously ring-fenced Strategic Waste Fund, plus money from the Zero Waste Fund, and the overall additional funding package resulting from the 2007 Spending review is considered sufficient to meet both landfill directive and zero waste targets for 2010.

  As regards longer term targets, Scottish Government and COSLA are currently discussing how best to ensure that waste management targets are achieved. Whilst those discussions are ongoing the penalties associated with the Landfill Allowance Scheme have been temporarily suspended.

Waste Management

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £41.1 million Zero Waste Fund for 2008-09 has been allocated.

Richard Lochhead: I can advise that all of the 2008-09 Zero Waste Fund (£41.1 million) has been allocated to a range of projects and initiatives designed to meet zero waste policy aims and objectives.

Waste Management

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what projects have benefited from the Zero Waste Fund in 2008-09.

Richard Lochhead: A number of projects designed to help meet zero waste policy aims and objectives have benefited. For example, delivery bodies including the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), Envirowise, Community Recycling Network for Scotland (CRNS) and the Scottish Waste Awareness Group (SWAG) have all received funding from the 2008-09 Zero Waste Fund.

  Funding has also been made available to Eco Schools and for local authority food waste trials. In addition, various community based projects have also benefited from funding provided through the INCREASE III programme which is administered and delivered by WRAP and CRNS.

Wind Farms

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what is meant by the term "notable", as it relates to invertebrates in the scoping guidance for wind farm developments issued by the Scottish Government.

Jim Mather: The term "notable" when relating to invertebrates in the scoping guidance refers developers to focus on significant species which may be impacted by the development, in particular protected and/or vulnerable species, including European Protected Species.

  It would be expected that the baseline survey commissioned to support a proposal be guided by existing information on those species protected by national and international legislation (Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, Bern Convention, Habitats Directive including European Protected Species) and listed as UKBAP (UK Biodiversity Action Plan) Priority Species or British Red Data Book species, and those outwith the British Red Data Book but with nationally, regionally or locally scarce status.

Wind Farms

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what requirements there are on wind farm developers to monitor invertebrates on site as well as in waterbodies and watercourses, following an initial baseline survey.

Jim Mather: Schedule 9 of the Electricity Act 1989 places on the applicant a duty to have regard to the desirability of preserving natural beauty of the countryside, of conserving flora, fauna and the geological and physiographical features of special interest and of protecting sites. The applicant must do what it reasonably can to mitigate any effect the proposals may have on these features.

  Applications and supporting environmental statements are subject to wide ranging consultation. Scottish Natural Heritage, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and other interested parties provide advice on ecology and water environment issues for each development proposal. The advice provided to ministers may include recommendations or mitigation conditions to be imposed in the event that consent is granted. The extent of the post consent monitoring of invertebrates would be based on that expert advice and any conditioned post consent monitoring would be specific to the development.

Wind Farms

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a requirement to monitor invertebrates on the site of a wind farm would be a legitimate planning condition for such a development.

Jim Mather: Schedule 9 of the Electricity Act 1989 places on the applicant a duty to have regard to the desirability of preserving natural beauty of the countryside, of conserving flora, fauna and the geological and physiographical features of special interest and of protecting sites. The applicant must do what it reasonably can to mitigate any effect the proposals may have on these features.

  Applications and supporting Environmental Statements are subject to wide ranging consultation. Scottish Natural Heritage, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and other interested parties provide advice on ecology and water environment issues for each development proposal. The advice provided to ministers may include recommendations or mitigation conditions to be imposed in the event that consent is granted. The extent of the post consent monitoring of invertebrates would be based on that expert advice and any conditioned post consent monitoring would be specific to the development. Circular 4/1998 sets out the test for planning conditions. All post-consent monitoring set out in the planning conditions attached to the development consent would have to be relevant, necessary, enforceable, precise and reasonable.

Young People

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it had with the UK Government and Scottish stakeholders regarding European Youth Week 2008.

Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government had no direct discussions with the UK Government prior to European Youth Week 2008. Discussions were held with Youthlink Scotland, Scotland’s national agency for youth work, about the focus and delivery of Youth Work Week in Scotland during European Youth Week. Youthlink’s membership covers the voluntary youth sector, all 32 local authorities and a range of other organisations which deliver services for young people in Scotland.

Young People

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it supported European Youth Week 2008.

Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government supported Youthlink Scotland to deliver the Youth Work Week programme during European Youth Week (2 to 9 November 2009). Funding was agreed to support the Here and Now  conference on 4 November 2008 which focused on promoting young people’s voice and influence and the Cabinet Secretary for Justice attended to deliver the keynote speech.